Application of helicopters in fire rescue

I. China's fire protection work is facing severe challenges

1. With the rapid development of China's social economy, the acceleration of industrialization, urbanization, and marketization, and the increase of various types of disaster-causing factors, the probability of fire, the danger, complexity, and the difficulty of fighting are increasing.

2. The chemical industry in China has developed rapidly. Large-scale petroleum, chemical companies, and large-scale chemical industrial zones have been built in large numbers around the country. The number of manufacturing companies has increased rapidly, and the energy structure has become increasingly diverse. The scale of fires has also grown.

3. The number of high-rise buildings in the city is increasing. Once a fire breaks out, high-rise building fires are difficult to rescue and people are difficult to evacuate.

4. Once serious and extraordinarily large expressway traffic accidents occur, it will inevitably cause serious casualties, and the highway will be seriously blocked, making it difficult for rescue personnel to reach the scene of the accident quickly and timely to carry out emergency rescue.

5. Various large-scale world-wide conferences, events and competitions have been held in our country one after another. There are higher requirements for the safety and security during the period, emergency assistance in the event of an emergency, and concerted operations by all parties.

Second, the development of fire helicopters and foreign helicopter applications

1. The development of fire helicopters

Aviation firefighting is a new firefighting technology that emerged in the middle and late 20th century. It has achieved rapid development in just a few decades.

Aviation equipment is the core of the fire airplanes, helicopters because of vertical takeoff and landing, hovering in the air, low-altitude low-speed maneuverability and other unique properties, fire in the fire, rescue can play many roles.

Since the 1950s and 1960s, with the development of helicopter technology, foreign helicopter technology has been applied in the field of fire protection.

2. Application of foreign helicopters

( 1 ) Since the 1950s, especially since the 1960s, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and the former Federal Republic of Germany have successively mastered the development of complex technologies for the manufacture of helicopters for these countries. Helicopters have provided abundant material conditions for rescue and relief operations.

( 2 ) In foreign countries, due to the good mobility of helicopters in the air, forest fire extinguishing, high-rise building fires, fire fighting and rescue of ships and airports, air traffic command and policing enforcement, handling emergencies, communications can be performed. Contact, search and rescue and other tasks.

( 3 ) Developed countries have used fire-fighting helicopters for forest fire prevention and extinguishment in large numbers. From the data, the United States uses about 1,000 aircraft for forest fire extinguishing every year , about 500 in Canada, and more than 800 in Russia .

Foreign special fire-fighting equipment has been developed to extinguish large-scale fires such as forests, ships, and large chemical companies.

3. The main role of fire helicopters

From the perspective of the world at present, the application of helicopters in the field of firefighting includes: aerial firefighting, emergency rescue, air transportation, and reconnaissance command .

( 1 ) Fire extinguishing in the air

Fire extinguishing in the sky can be achieved by suspending special fire-fighting equipment on helicopters.

1 bucket fire

2 special fire extinguishing system

â‘¢ special fire extinguishing systems (fire level)

( 2 ) Emergency Rescue

In the event of accidents and natural disasters such as fire, shipwreck, air crash, and traffic accidents, rescue personnel cannot immediately reach the scene. With the aid of helicopters' air superiority, rescue workers and relief materials are quickly transported to the scene to implement the rescue. At the same time, the rescued personnel can be transported to a safe place in time to ensure that the rescue process is carried out quickly and efficiently.

( 3 ) Air transportation

In the event of a large-scale disaster accident, on-site rescue workers and relief supplies are difficult to meet the requirements for fire fighting and emergency rescue. The harsh environment at the scene makes it impossible for follow-on rescue personnel and relief supplies to arrive at the accident site in time. Helicopters can be used to transport personnel. And equipment or related rescue materials are transported to the disaster site to provide conditions for the rescue time.

( 4 ) Reconnaissance command

In the event of large-scale disaster accidents, traffic is affected, and it is difficult for commanders to rush to the disaster site in time, or when it is difficult to grasp the entire disaster site situation on the ground, a helicopter can be used as soon as possible to reach the disaster site and can be carried out in the air. Reconnaissance, to understand the situation of the scene of the disaster, but also through television, reconnaissance and detection equipment to collect disaster site intelligence, ingest the on-site personnel of the fighting activities, through the wireless communication network to the ground, guide fire fighting, rescue and rescue activities.

( 5 ) Advantages of using helicopters for fire fighting and emergency rescue:

1 The maneuverability is good. The rescue operation is rapid and effective. It can respond and fly to the scene in a short time, free from traffic congestion, river barriers, and the height of fire;

2 Obvious advantages in aerial reconnaissance and command, overlooking the ground in the air, can fully assess the situation of the fire, and conduct timely command and rescue activities;

3 At the scene of the disaster, when the trapped person has no other means of escape, the use of a helicopter for rescue is the only option

( 6 ) Disadvantages of using helicopters in fire fighting and rescue operations:

1 The helicopter flies over the fire, and the hot air caused by the fire poses a potential danger to helicopters;

2 The strong undershoot of the helicopter's flight may cause the fire to increase, and the smoke and hot gas streams are blown back to the fire, causing the firefighters to increase their risk.

Third, China's helicopters in the application of fire

Rescue at sea

Aviation Forest

Aviation Fire Station

SOS Rescue Center

Police police helicopters

Aircraft Equipment:

Four-channel autopilot

Electric winch

float

Glare searchlight

Infrared front view device

IV. Helicopter special fire fighting equipment

The main task of helicopters used in firefighting is to undertake fire extinguishing and rescue operations. Therefore, its special firefighting equipment mainly includes firefighting equipment and rescue equipment.

Bucket

( 1 ) Suspended fire extinguishing system

( 2 ) Single-cylinder fire extinguishing system

System weight and load

Composite cabinet weight: 364 kg

Hover charge pump weight: 63.5 kg

Water capacity: 2574L

Foam capacity: 90.8 L

Hover charge pump rate: 3785 L /min

( 3 ) Pulse fire extinguishing system

Its main performance parameters are as follows:

Pulse gun: 2 × 18L /min

Loading capacity: 2 × 155L

No-load quality: 350kg

Length × width × height: 2960 × 400 × 200 mm

Barrels and Frame Materials: Al 52

Injection pressure: 25 bar

Jet speed (Muzzle): 120 m /s

Valve opening / closing time: 20ms

The maximum injection range: 40m~60m

Effective ejection range: 10m~40m

Spray width: 4m~7m

V. Problems to be solved in China's helicopter application at this stage

1. Effectively solve the problem of air supremacy

China's low-altitude airspace is under the control of the military. The current airspace control approach still poses certain obstacles to flights that often have sudden and urgent characteristics.

2. Establish a suitable operating mode

The application of helicopters to firefighting is a huge system project. It not only involves large investments but also involves a wide range of applications. Therefore, a reasonable and effective operation mode is a necessary condition for helicopters to be used in firefighting.

3. Speed ​​up infrastructure construction and personnel training

At present, China's infrastructure and talent team suitable for helicopter applications is still quite thin and scarce, and it is not suitable for the application of fire-fighting helicopters. Infrastructure construction and personnel training should be accelerated.

4. Accelerate the research on the skills and tactics of helicopter fire fighting and rescue

Through the research on the techniques and tactics of using helicopters for firefighting and rescue operations, we have accelerated the ability of firefighters to respond quickly and effectively to various types of disaster accidents in the current complex fire situation.

Sixth, the conclusion

1. Because helicopters have unique features such as vertical take-off and landing, hovering in the air, low-low-speed mobility, etc., in the fire extinguishing of high-rise buildings, large petrochemical companies, forests, etc. Rescue and the safety and security of large-scale events in cities can play a huge role.

2. With the rapid development of our country's social economy, our country's fire-fighting forces are undertaking heavy firefighting and fire-fighting rescue tasks in order to respond to the current complex and severe fire-fighting situation, and improving the ability to quickly and effectively dispose of various types of disaster accidents. The rise of aircraft is a general trend;

3. In view of the application of helicopters, involving the opening up of low-altitude airspace in China, the construction of bases and the establishment of relevant construction codes, and the coordination of applications of various departments in various regions, it is suggested that the relevant departments of our country can consider the relationship between all parties in an Long-term development plan for aircraft applications;

4. Given the huge operating cost of helicopters and the differences in the level of socio-economic development in various regions of China, it is suggested that the relevant departments in our country can coordinate the needs of air services in various localities and departments in accordance with China’s national conditions and avoid redundant construction. Improve the efficiency of air-flight services so as to form an effective air-flight service system;

5. Carry out research on helicopter fire fighting rescue tactics and special equipment as soon as possible to create necessary technical reserves for future use of helicopters in firefighting.